Festivals celebrated in Nepal

Being a multicultural country, there are so many festivals in Nepal. Albeit native, I find it difficult to keep track of so many Nepali festivals as they seem occur almost every month. Nepal is often considered to be the mystic Hindu kingdom which is not entirely true, as the country accepted the system of federal republic and secularism after the second popular movement of 2006. if you happen to glance the recent census of Nepal, you’ll observe multitude of races residing in different parts of the country and been following their own set of culture. Festivals appear as joyous part of the culture during which the people celebrate with the family, community and relatives. Originally, festivals were celebrated to mark any auspicious occasions like good harvest, plenty of rainfall, abundance of domesticated cattle in the agrarian society. So, the practice of agriculture in Nepal can be taken as one of the major reasons for the endless festivities.

Lokta Paper | Nepali Paper

Byadmin June 23, 2015

Lokta Paper | Nepali Paper

We have been making paper for centuries. Prior to paper being invented in China in around 100AD, we used to use stones, tree barks or parchments or solid wooden objects for communication by scribing on them and transporting them. Han Dynasty of China has been accredited to have invented paper in around 200BC to 200AD. The Licchavi Dynasty, which ruled Nepal during 400-750 AD, could be one of the earliest adopters of paper making from the Chinese – handmade Lokta paper being found from Licchavi era.

As a kid, many of us may have seen how paper is made. The process is actually simple, comprising of dissolving the paper pulp and evenly distributing it as a layer and letting it dry. Traditionally, paper is made out of pulp from fibre collected from different plants. Based on what plant is found a particular locality, the process and texture of paper making slightly differ. In Nepal, paper is made out of the inner bark of a shrub /bush called Lokta (scientific name Danphe panachea) found abundantly in some 20 hilly districts in Nepal covering around 1 million sq meters.

Lokta Paper, also known as Nepali Kagaj (paper), has been the only kind of paper produced and found in Nepal till the 20th century. In late 20th century, however, the market was flooded with cheaper paper from China and India, which nearly proved terminal to the local paper making industry and affecting the livelihood of the villagers directly.

Janai Purnima: The Thread Festival

Byadmin August 11, 2016

Janai Purnima, the thread festival, falls on the full moon day in the month of Bhadra (August/ September) and is celebrated with great gusto, devotion and splendor by Hindus all over the country.

Janai is sacred thread and purnima is full moon day, hence, Janai Purnima points to the change of the thread on the auspicious full moon day. On this day, the Tagadharis (Hindu men wearing the sacred thread), especially the Brahmins and Chettris performing their annual change of Janai (sacred yellow cotton thread) slung from the shoulder and also tie Tago (sacred thread) sanctified by priests chanting the Gayatri Mantra as a symbol of protection. The janai is given to Hindu men in coming-of-age ceremony called Bratabandha that initiates them into manhood and commands them to faithfully follow the religion. It must be worn everyday of their lives from this day onwards. The triple cord of janai is a symbol of body, speech and mind, and when the knots are tied the wearer is supposed to gain complete control over each. After taking bath and making offerings to the Saptarishis (seven legendary Rishis or sages) and to their departed fathers and fore-fathers, the tagadharis put new janai with a belief of having absolute control over mind.

Woodcraft in Nepal – Religion, Art & Artisan

Byadmin December 20, 2017

WoodCrafts in Nepal

One of the reason tourists visits Kathmandu is the breathtaking architecture of medieval palaces and temples in three traditional Durbar squares located in three different cities Kathmandu, Bhaktapur, and Lalitpur. These three culturally distinctive piazzas contain wooden and brick temples, so delicately designed and elegantly morphed together.

Legend has it that the name of the city, Kathmandu is derived from the Kasthamandap, the oldest known wooden temple built during Lichhavi, which was then formed by two words, Kastha means wood (a chief material from which a temple is made) and mandon ( temple or an edifice).